"I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Branch!"
"As long as this card remains on the field, when one of my Fusion Monsters is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon one of its Fusion Materials from my Graveyard."
Behind Hikaru, a massive gravestone slowly rose, engraved with the name "Amaki Hikaru." The sight was both eerie and chilling.
At this moment, Hikaru was dueling with death in his heart.
"Then, I Set one card and end my turn."
"Heh heh heh, what an exceptional duel, Amaki Hikaru. Even if you can't destroy my monsters in battle, you find ways to destroy my power," said the Light of Destruction from behind Sartorius's shadow. "But your efforts are ultimately in vain.
My power far surpasses that of humanity."
As it finished speaking, Sartorius sharply drew a card: "My turn, draw!"
At the same time, Light Barrier began to spin.
"Light Barrier's judgment activates during the Standby Phase. If it lands Reverse, it loses its effect."
It slowly spun, and finally landed Upright.
Sartorius let out a long breath, then burst into manic laughter. "For those who dare defy fate, I bring down the hammer of calamity! Light Barrier, shine forth!"
A terrifying radiance erupted from Light Barrier, casting shadows over everyone present.
"Careful, Hikaru! That guy has The Hierophant! If he gets three Arcana Force monsters on the field, he can summon Chaos Ruler!"
"I know."
"Oho? Planning tactics already? But Light Force is invincible!!" Sartorius pointed at the grave marker with a clawed hand. "I activate the Graveyard effect of Arcana Spread! I banish it to retrieve one coin-toss card from my Graveyard to hand!
I add Light Force to my hand!"
"Continuous Spell: Light Force!!" Sartorius bared his teeth in a twisted grin. "Now the gap between us will grow ever wider, Amaki Hikaru!"
"So that card has a Graveyard effect too?" Hikaru nodded slightly, then raised his right hand. "But it won't be that easy, Light of Destruction!
I activate my Set card, Quick-Play Spell: El Shaddoll Fusion!"
Hikaru held up the card. "El Shaddoll Fusion lets me send materials from my hand or field to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon a Shaddoll monster!
I send Destiny HERO - Disk Commander and Shaddoll Dragon from my hand to the Graveyard, Fusion Summon!"
"Messenger of the Gods!
El Shaddoll Winda!"
Winda's form emerged once more, swinging her staff to ward off any who approached.
[El Shaddoll Winda] Level 5│DARK│Spellcaster│2200 ATK
"Now, Shaddoll Dragon's effect activates. When sent to the Graveyard by a card effect: target one Spell/Trap on the field and destroy it!"
"Be destroyed again, Light Force!"
Hikaru pointed to Light Force. The puppet-like dragon flew from the Graveyard, entangled in puppet strings, and smashed into the spell.
"Hmph... interesting." Watching his power destroyed again, the Light of Destruction could only grunt in disdain.
"Hahaha! Cosmic deity or not, dueling isn't something you can master by observation alone," Tierra laughed loudly at the Light's misstep.
She could tell, the Light of Destruction's cards were far stronger than Hikaru's. But that didn't mean Hikaru would lose.
At least right now, he clearly held the advantage.
"Foolish. This man is one of the most gifted Duelists of your world. He can see through fate. Even before this duel began, he had already perceived it, everything you do is already etched into destiny."
Just then, Sartorius's shadow roared: "Indeed! El Shaddoll Winda can lock down Special Summons, but that alone won't change everything!
Her ATK is her weakness!"
"You're wrong! As long as Flame Swordsrealm is on the field, Winda's ATK is 3200! She's not that easy to destroy!"
"Tch, Flame Swordsrealm? Then I'll just destroy it." Sartorius sneered. "I pay 500 LP to activate the Quick-Play Spell: Mystical Space Typhoon! It destroys one face-up Spell/Trap on the field!"
[Shadow of Sartorius, LP: 4300 → 3800]
"Destroy Flame Swordsrealm! That troublesome Spell can disappear now!"
"Then, Normal Summon: Arcana Force V - The Hierophant! Its Upright Position effect: Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Arcana Force monster not on the field or in the Graveyard from the Deck, The Emperor."
[Arcana Force V - The Hierophant] Level 4│LIGHT│Fairy│1500 ATK
[Arcana Force IV - The Emperor] Level 4│LIGHT│Fairy│1400 ATK
"The Emperor's Upright effect: all Arcana Force monsters on the field gain 500 ATK!"
[The Sun, ATK: 2900 → 3400]
[The Hierophant, ATK: 1500 → 2000]
[The Emperor, ATK: 1400 → 1900]
"Battle! The Sun attacks Winda!"
The grotesque angel twisted toward Winda, lashing its tendrils and shredding the Spellcaster apart.
Boom.
[Hikaru, LP: 4000 → 2800]
"Branch! effect! I Special Summon Disk Commander from the Graveyard!"
[Destiny HERO - Disk Commander] Level 1│DARK│Warrior│300 DEF
"Light Barrier's effect: I regain LP equal to the original ATK of any monster I destroy by battle!"
"Disk Commander's effect: When Special Summoned from the Graveyard, draw 2 cards! Winda's effect: when sent to the Graveyard, add one Shaddoll Spell/Trap from Graveyard to hand, I add El Shaddoll Fusion!"
Hikaru retrieved El Shaddoll Fusion, then drew two cards from his Deck.
[Shadow of Sartorius, LP: 3800 → 6000]
"The Emperor attacks Flame Swordsman!" The Emperor pierced Flame Swordsman mercilessly.
[Shadow of Sartorius, LP: 6000 → 7800]
"Heh, now let's smash that Disk Commander too."
The Hierophant tossed Disk Commander to the ground, shattering him.
[Shadow of Sartorius, LP: 7800 → 8100]
"Hahahahahaha!" Sartorius roared. "End of Battle Phase! I send my three Arcana Force monsters to the Graveyard for a Contact Fusion!!
Witness this, the hammer of doom upon all who defy fate!
The monster that destroys everything and resets it all to zero:
Arcana Force EX - Chaos Ruler!"
The heavens warped.
Blazing red light tore through the cosmos. Stars and galaxies collided, obliterated, annihilated. And from the storm came the ruler of light and darkness, the end incarnate.
[Arcana Force EX - Chaos Ruler] Level 10│LIGHT│Fairy│3300 ATK
"Chaos Ruler's Upright effect: Special Summon one Level 10 Arcana Force monster from the Deck, ignoring Summoning conditions!
Descend, Arcana Force EX - Dark Ruler!"
Before the spectators could gasp, a brand new monster exploded into view before Hikaru!
[Arcana Force EX - Dark Ruler] Level 10│LIGHT│Fairy│4000 ATK
"Dark Ruler's Upright effect: it can attack twice per turn!"
"Heheheh....hahahahahaha!! You're finished, Amaki Hikaru!"
Sartorius raised both arms and laughed wildly toward the sky. His hair whipped like a true demon's.
"The strongest monster, limitless power, and endless LP, you have no chance left, Amaki Hikaru!"
Sarina stumbled backward, eventually collapsing to the floor. Yet even then, she kept watching the field, face pale with despair: "H-how can this be..."
'4000 Attack!?'
'And it can attack twice!'
Even Celina couldn't help but breathe sharply. Her trembling fists betrayed her turmoil.
But... it was still okay. Even with such high ATK, her master's monsters could still...
"I Set one card. Hikaru, at this turn's End Phase, Dystopia summoned by Destiny Fusion will be destroyed!"
"Quickly! Don't hesitate to let go of the monster you received from Aster!"
Hikaru solemnly sent the card to the Graveyard, then opened his Graveyard: "Branch! effect. When a Fusion Monster is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon one of its Fusion Materials. I Special Summon Destiny HERO - Denier."
Denier didn't emerge laughing. Instead, he gripped his D-marked chain with grim resolve.
[Destiny HERO - Denier] Level 3│DARK│Warrior│600 DEF
"Denier's effect: when this card is Summoned or Special Summoned..."
Hikaru suddenly froze.
He realized, Denier couldn't activate his effect.
His pupils contracted slightly.
"Hahahaha! It's useless, Amaki Hikaru!"
Sartorius spread his arms, his deranged smile beaming confidence and madness: "As long as Light Barrier remains on the field!"
He held a card in his left hand and slowly clenched his right, as if the world rested in his grasp.
"Chaos Ruler activates its ultimate effect!
While it's on the field, your monsters can't activate their effects!"
"What!?" Sarina nearly fainted.
"N-no way..." Celina's clenched fists loosened.
If that's the effect, then there was nothing they could do.
No matter how strong the monster they summoned, it wouldn't matter!
"This..." Even Tierra, who had stood beside Hikaru the whole time, blanched. "This guy has an effect just like Plasma... it's the same type of card."
"He must really like this kind of effect," Tierra muttered, clearly worried. "Hikaru, what will you do now?"
Hikaru remained calm. He stared at the top card of his Deck, then slowly looked up at his opponent: "It's my turn."
"Light of Destruction."
Before drawing, Hikaru showed no hint of fear.
"?"
"I'm giving you one last chance. A chance you can't lose."
"What are you talking about?" The Light of Destruction writhed behind Sartorius, clearly puzzled.
"Now, rewind time back to Turn One. You might still have a chance. Otherwise, you'll never get another."
"Hahahahaha! Amaki Hikaru, have you lost your mind!?" Sartorius laughed maniacally. "Go ahead, make your final struggle!"